*The Federal High Court, Uyo Division, in Akwa Ibom State, South-South region, sentences nine crude suspects to jail, as security operatives intensify crackdown on oil theft, illegal bunkering and refining sites across the region
Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect
As Nigeria moves to increase crude production output to 2.5 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2027, the Federal High Court, Uyo Division, in Akwa Ibom State, South-South region, has sentenced nine suspects to 10 years’ imprisonment.
ConsumerConnect reports the operatives of the Nigerian Navy had earlier arrested the suspects February 2026 over crude oil theft at a wellhead in Akwa Ibom.
The defendants were identified as Michael Olayinka Mebawadu, Gerekumo Duduku, Godpromise Toikee Amijoe, Victor Ita, Owei Godspower, Newyear Orimisan Fiyeboju, Henry Siarerebo Opuowei and Innocent Oluwatimilehin Egbayelo.
The Navy, in a statement Friday, September 18, also confirmed that the crude oil theft suspects were sentenced Monday this week to five years’ imprisonment on count one and 10 years on count two.
Since Operation Delta Sentinel began January this year to tackle oil theft across the Niger Delta, it has destroyed over 241 illegal refining sites, the Navy said.
Besides, the security operatives disclosed they had recovered over 6.44 million litres of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products, leading to the arrest of over 230 suspects during the operation.
The Navy further maintained that the operations targeting oil theft are part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts at increasing Nigeria’s crude oil output to 2.5 million barrels per day by 2027.
The statement explained: “These efforts directly support the policy direction of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production to 2.5 million barrels per day by 2027, thereby contributing to national economic development and the sustainable growth of the nation’s oil and gas sector.
“The Nigerian Navy reiterates that while successful interdictions at sea are essential, their strategic value is fully realised only when they culminate in timely convictions that reinforce the rule of law and serve as a strong deterrent to criminal networks.”